Active pressure control mechanism for improved battery performance

Abstract

A vehicle includes a pressure control device for controlling a pressure at a battery of a vehicle and a method of controlling the pressure of the battery. A support plate is disposed at a first side of the battery. A pressure plate disposed at a second side of the battery opposite the first side. The pressure plate movable with respect to the support plate to control the pressure of the battery. A cam disposed at the pressure plate is configured to rotate to move the pressure plate with respect to the support plate. A cam shaft rotates the cam to move the pressure plate. A motor generates a rotation at the cam shaft.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A pressure control device for controlling a pressure at a battery of a vehicle, comprising:
 a support plate at a first side of the battery;   a pressure plate disposed at a second side of the battery opposite the first side, the pressure plate movable with respect to the support plate to control the pressure of the battery;   a cam disposed at the pressure plate and configured to rotate to move the pressure plate with respect to the support plate;   a cam shaft configured to rotate the cam to move the pressure plate; and   a motor configured to generate a rotation at the cam shaft.   
     
     
         2 . The pressure control device of  claim 1 , wherein the cam shaft is held at a fixed location with respect to the support plate. 
     
     
         3 . The pressure control device of  claim 1 , wherein the motor generates the rotation at the cam shaft via one of: (i) a rotor shaft rotated by the motor and a flexible belt connecting the rotor shaft to the cam shaft to convert a rotation of the rotor shaft to the rotation of the cam shaft; and (ii) the cam shaft acting as the rotor shaft of the motor. 
     
     
         4 . The pressure control device of  claim 1 , wherein the cam includes a first cam and a second cam, wherein the first cam and the second cam can be selectively rotated to apply a differential pressure across the pressure plate. 
     
     
         5 . The pressure control device of  claim 4 , wherein the first cam is set at a first angle with respect to the cam shaft and the second cam is set at a second angle with respect to the cam shaft that is different from the first angle. 
     
     
         6 . The pressure control device of  claim 4 , wherein the cam shaft includes a first section including the first cam and a second section including the second cam, wherein the first section and the second section are rotatable independently of each other. 
     
     
         7 . The pressure control device of  claim 1 , wherein the cam includes a cam groove and the cam shaft includes a pin rail having a gear pin therein that is configured to move into the cam groove to engage the cam shaft to the cam. 
     
     
         8 . The pressure control device of  claim 7 , further comprising a solenoid at the cam shaft for controlling an axial location of the gear pin with respect to the cam groove. 
     
     
         9 . A method of controlling an operation of a battery of an electric vehicle, comprising:
 rotating a cam against a pressure plate to cause the pressure plate to move with respect to a support plate, wherein the battery is disposed between the support plate and the pressure plate and moving the pressure plate with respect to the support plate adjusts a pressure within the battery.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising rotating the cam by rotating a cam shaft at a fixed location with respect to the support plate. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising rotating the cam shaft via a motor, wherein one of: (i) a rotor shaft rotated by the motor is coupled to the rotor shaft via flexible belt; and (ii) the cam shaft is directly rotated by the motor. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the cam includes a cam groove and the cam shaft includes a pin rail having a gear pin therein, further comprising moving the gear pin into the cam groove to engage the cam shaft to the cam. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the cam includes a first cam and a second cam, further comprising applying a differential pressure across the pressure plate using the first cam and the second cam. 
     
     
         14 . A vehicle, comprising:
 a battery having a first side and a second side opposite the first side; and   a pressure control device, comprising:   a support plate at the first side of the battery;   a pressure plate at the second side of the battery, the pressure plate movable with respect to the support plate to control a pressure of the battery;   a cam disposed at the pressure plate and configured to rotate to move the pressure plate with respect to the support plate;   a cam shaft configured to rotate the cam to move the pressure plate; and   a motor configured to generate a rotation at the cam shaft.   
     
     
         15 . The vehicle of  claim 14 , wherein the cam shaft is held at a fixed location with respect to the support plate. 
     
     
         16 . The vehicle of  claim 14 , wherein the motor generates the rotation at the cam shaft via one of: (i) a rotor shaft rotated by the motor and a flexible belt connecting the rotor shaft to the cam shaft to convert a rotation of the rotor shaft to the rotation of the cam shaft; and (ii) the cam shaft acting as the rotor shaft of the motor. 
     
     
         17 . The vehicle of  claim 14 , wherein the cam includes a first cam and a second cam, wherein the first cam and the second cam can be selectively rotated to apply a differential pressure across the pressure plate. 
     
     
         18 . The vehicle of  claim 17 , wherein the first cam is set at a first angle with respect to the cam shaft and the second cam is set at a second angle with respect to the cam shaft that is different from the first angle. 
     
     
         19 . The vehicle of  claim 14 , wherein the cam includes a cam groove and the cam shaft includes a pin rail having a gear pin therein that is configured to move into the cam groove to engage the cam shaft to the cam. 
     
     
         20 . The vehicle of  claim 19 , further comprising a solenoid at the cam shaft for controlling an axial location of the gear pin with respect to the cam groove.